Research in my laboratory has three major components
and six focus areas that are interrelated and
complementary to each other. These major components
include the study of the basic immunological
mechanisms of pathology caused by experimental
Trypanosoma cruzi infection in mice; the study
of the biology and epidemiology of Chagas disease in
Ecuador and in the United States; the
improvement of the safety of the blood supply in
developing countries; and the Healthy Living
Initiative. Activities related to these
research foci take place in my laboratory in Athens,
OH, as well as in the Center for Infectious Disease Research
at Catholic University in Quito, Ecuador.

Trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of
Chagas disease and directly affects an estimated 18
million people in the American Continent. This
protozoan parasite is transmitted by three main
routes: via the feces of infected Triatomine
insects, via blood transfusions and from the mother
to the fetus during pregnancy. The parasite has a
complex life cycle and even more complex
interactions with the vertebrate host. Of those
infected, between 30 to 40% develop an often fatal
chronic disease. However, there is neither an
effective cure nor a vaccine. The only effective
method for combating the disease is the prevention
of transmission via the blood supply and the
elimination of the contact between Triatomines and
people in endemic areas.

The safety of the blood supply depends on the
quality of the processes used in its processing,
including screening for disease markers. However,
lack of financial resources, weak enforcement of
regulations and oversight, and lack of training
create risks for the transmission of diseases
through blood transfusions. At present, our
laboratory in Ecuador serves as the organizing
center for the “External Performance Evaluation
Program in serological screening” for the blood
banks of Ecuador. This program was initiated in 2003
and is actively catalyzing the implementation of
better procedures and training within the blood
services in Ecuador. These efforts aim to determine
the effectiveness of the blood screening procedures
in the country and recommend interventions to
improve the safety of the blood supply.

Research into Chagas disease in the blood supply led
us to inquire about the status of the disease in
Ecuador. Since 1997 we have been investigating the
status of Chagas disease in Ecuador. The results of
this ongoing investigation reveal that Chagas
disease affects a large number of people in
Ecuador. One common feature present in all areas
studied has been the pervasive lack of knowledge
about the disease, how it is transmitted, how to
prevent it or treat it, exhibited by the population
in general and by the health care community in
particular. As more samples are collected and
analyzed, the epidemiological map of Chagas disease
in Ecuador is emerging.

The countries of the Southern Cone of South America
have achieved a great deal of success in their
efforts to eliminate vectorial transmission of
Chagas disease. This has been possible because
research demonstrated that the main vector in this
region, namely, Triatoma infestans, was found
exclusively in domiciles and in the peridomiciles.
Therefore, a straightforward intervention approach
using insecticides was effective in controlling this
species. The situation in northern South America is
quite different. Just in Ecuador, 15 different
species of Triatomines have been reported and there
is little or no information related to their
vectorial potential, their habitat or their
behavior.

Since the serological studies pinpointed
the areas of active transmission, considerable
effort is now being placed in the study of the
Triatomines present in Ecuador. These efforts have
led to the capture of thousands of Triatomines
belonging mainly to Rhodnius ecuadoriensis,
Triatoma carrioni, Panstrongylus rufotuberculatus
and Pastrongilus howardi. The captured
individuals have been transported to the insectary
in our laboratory in Quito, where colonies have been
established for the study of natural infection with
T. cruzi and T. rangeli, and different
aspects of the physiology and life cycle of these
speciesunder laboratory conditions.

Chagas disease is considered a zoonotic disease. It
is believed that the sylvatic cycle of T. cruzi
existed long before humans colonized the
Americas. As a result, the parasite is found in many
reservoir species. These include rats, mice,
opossums, raccoons, armadillos, monkeys, etc. Our
group has been conducting yearly collections of
synanthropic mammals and performing serological
testing on dogs in Ecuador since 2001. In addition,
in collaboration with colleagues from Clemson
University, South Carolina, and Berry College and
Georgia Southern University in Georgia, we have been
examining the natural infection of these animals in
the United States using prospective and
retrospective analysis of freshly collected and
archival tissue samples, respectively.

One of the major obstacles to conduct meaningful
research in Ecuador was the lack of infrastructure.
Cooperation between Catholic University of Ecuador
and Ohio University led to the creation of the
Infectious Disease Research Laboratory (IDRL) in the
campus of Catholic University in Quito. Our
laboratory has a group of dedicated and well trained
laboratory technicians and serves as the base of
operations for all of the activities of our research
group in the country.

The
“Healthy Living” project is a long-term initiative
that aims to support socioeconomic development of
rural communities as the main tool for the control
of Chagas disease in the province of Loja in
southern Ecuador.

With a
holistic approach, this public health strategy looks
to prevent the transmission of Chagas and other
diseases “associated with poverty” by facilitating
participatory processes of human development that
are sustainable and sustained by the people
involved. Learn more about it
here.

Other ongoing initiatives include sociological, clinical and
anthropometric studies in rural areas of Ecuador,
biological control of Triatomines, genetic
characterization of T. cruzi and T.
rangeli, development of video and graphic tools
for community education, training of Ecuadorian
health care workers, and integration of all the
components mentioned above in a Geographical
Information System, among others.

Seeking research
opportunities in Ohio or Abroad? Send an
e-mail
grijalva@ohiou.edu
and inquire about scholarships (MS and PhD -
Graduate program) internships, fellowships,
volunteer work or undergraduate research.